Pinch valve



March 4, 1958 K. P. Fox

PINCH VALVE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 'FH-jf? nited States .Patent Cflce2,825,524 -Paiemedmaa 4, 1195s 2,825,524 PINCH ""VLVE KnoxfPfvFox,Carlsbad,fN. Mex. ApplicationjDeember 17, 1956, SerialiNo. 628,618

2 Claims. (Cl. 251-8) This invention .relates Vto a compressble tube-valve structure. More particularly, it relates `to valves for thecontrol of the ow of liquors and slurries andparticularly to thecontrolof the 4'ow of'corrosive liquors and slurries.

Valves which are comprised of metal plugs or gates and machined valveseats give satisfactory operation in systems handling non-corrosivemediums. This type valve 1s unsatisfactory for handling slurry streamsparticularly those containing corrosive liquids because of erosion ofvalve parts with the result that valves leak or stick causing highexcess for maintenance or repair.

Itis a primary object of this invention to overcome the disadvantagesand shortcomings of pinch valve mechanisms heretofore in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a valve having acompressible rubber sleeve adapted to be squeezed so as to control theeffective opening thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a valve having acompressible rubber sleeve which is easily replaceable when Worn.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a valve structureenclosing the compressible liner in a siniplied construction giving easyaccess to the rubber sleeve.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following description and the drawings inwhich,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete valve assembly.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the basic housing unit of theT-shaped member forming the ball and stem enclosure.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the basic housing unit of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the secondary portion of theT-member forming the housing.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the secondary unit shown inFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a secondary view of the compressible liner and connectingtubing.

Figure 7 is `a side elevational view of the actuating means.

Referring to the drawings, the valve comprises a tubular T shapedhousing 10 of rigid material, preferably metal. T shaped housing 10 ismade up of two sections, tubular head section 11 and the tubular legsection 12 whose axis is transversed to and preferably perpendicular tothe central axis of head section 11. Tubular leg section 12 is composedof a portion 13 connecting at one end with head section 11 and at theother with transition portion 13A, which transition portion connectswith a terminal portion 14. Terminal portion 14 is internally threadedas at 15.

Housing 10 is adapted to be formed of a basic housing unit 16 and asecondary housing unit 17, each of which is made up of portions of headsection 11 and of leg section 12. Unit 16 is adapted to have a segment18 of thetubularheadsection 112. Segment 18extends the full "length ofsaid head member. For one-half of vthe length of the segment, portion4'18A'is--sliglitlyless than one-half the tubularhead circumferenceandz'for the other one-half, Vthe Vsegment yportion 18B 'is slightlyvgreater than one-halflthe tubularhea'd circumference. :Extendingfromsegment 118 .issegment'19 vof theleg Vportion llo'lfthe tubular legmember '12, which Vsegment 19 has its terminals aligned in a planerunningthrough the central longitudinal axis of uhead member '1'1although these terminalsneedjnot, for the v'purposes Aoj'f thisinvention, 'be in alignment. Unit 16 also ,includes a segmentl oftranstiongpertian 13A 'which has V`a "circumference length of one-halfthe tubular leg ,initially and `increasing until at the end, itis theffull circumferentiallengthof 'said tubularl'egsectiojn andthewholeofterminal section -14. Secured as 1by`ta'ckwelding`fto 'segment18B,'of substantially 'equal length itherewith, andinalignment with thelongitudinal axis of head section 11, is the small diameter tube 21.

Unit 17 is adapted to have a segment 22 which is the balance of the headsection 11. Segment 22, over its segment portion 22A, is slightlygreater than one-half the tubular head circumference and over itssegment portion 22B, is slightly less than one-half the tubular headcircumference in length. Extending from segment 22 is segment 23 of theleg portion 13 of the tubular leg section 12 which is the balance of legportion 13 and terminates with the segment 24 which is the balance ofthe transition portion 13A. Secured as by tack welding to section 22A,of substantially equal length therewith, and in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of head section 11, is a tube 25 of the same diameteras tube 21. Tubes 21 and 25 are adapted to be in central axial alignmentwith one another. When units 16 and 17 are litted together, a pin 26 isadapted for sliding iit within the tubes 25 and 21 and secures thebottom of the T-shaped housing 10 and forms a pivot for opening andclosing of the housA ing 10.

To secure the upper parts of units 16 and 17 togetherY the leg section12 is provided with a slideable collar 27 or other suitable clampingmeans, for example, a coil spring. Mounted within leg section 12 is ametal ball 28. Mounted in the threads 15 of terminal section 14 is afeed screw 30. The feed screw 30 has fixed to its upper end, suitablemeans 31 such as the hand wheel for actuation. At the lower end, feedscrew 30 is provided with a concave surface 32 of a curvature adapted tocooperate with the ball mounted within the leg section 12.

Enclosed by head `section 11 is a compressible liner 33. This liner ismade up of suitable compressible elastic such as rubber, syntheticorganic plastic or the like. Liner 33 is adapted to receive tubing 34and 35 in a press t of the resilient materials or for securing bysuitable means. It will be recogn-ized however, that the valve isadapted for clamping around compressible tubing of suitable diameterwherever there is sucient length of tubingT exposed to accommodate headsection 11.

For operation of the valve, the ball 28 is laid inside leg section 12 ofthe basic housing unit and the secondary unit secured in hingedrelationship by pin 26. Unit 16 and 17 are thus secured together by thecollar 27. By turning the feed screw 3i), the ball is pressed into theliner as a choke. To change liners merely requires retraction of thecollar 27 and pivoting of unit 16 and 17 to open position and the newliner inserted in place in the head section 11.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim is:

l. A valve comprising a basic housing member and a secondary memberwhich, in conjunction, form a T- Y, shaped housing'unit having a tubularheadsection and a tubular-Yleg'sectio'n,v said basic housing memberconsisting of a segment of said head section, 'arseg'ment of that por--tion4 of said leg section adjacent the head section, and a terminalportion of Vsaid leg section,vinternal,threading in-theterminal portionof said leg section,sai.d secondary tion of said leg sectiony adjacentthe head section, .and-ka Y terminal portion of said leg section,internal-'threading o,

in the Yterminal portion of said leg section, 'saidvsecondarymember'consistingof the balance of'said headsection,V and befand adaptedto be in axial alignment :parallel tothe Y t longitudinal axis ofsaidYhead section, a pin Vmounted: in said tubes to form a hinge, acollaradapted for sliding Vt with lsaid leg section whereby the basichousing Vmember Vandfsecondary housing member are secured together,

i' a ball Vmounted within said leg section, and actuating means adaptedVfor movement of the ball along apath'n alignment with the central axis'of said tubular leg section. Y2.1Atvalve comprising abasic housingmember-and a secondary memberV which, in conjunction, Yform a. T-

' Vfthe balance yofr'that portion ofsaid',leg'sectionfadjaent the headsection, a tube"s'eparatelyttsecured to. each memmember consisting ofVthe balance of Ysaid head section, and the balance of that portion ofsaid leg section adjacent the head section, a tube separately securedtofeach merni' ber and adapted to be in axial alignment'parallel to thelongitudinal of saidhead'sectiona pin mounted in` i said tubes to form ahinge, a collarY adapted'forsli'ding` t with said `legsection'whereby'thejbasichousing mem-V ber and secondary khousing memberare secured together, i `a ball mountedrwithinsaid leg section; f screwmeans f mounted in said `threads of'saidrleg sectiony foriactuation :of'the bau, anda resilient 1111er mommaV injs'arid head section. ,Y

References Cited inthe tile ofthis patentY :`VY

UNITED VSTATES"PATnIsi'rs Y n

